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Animal Alphabet HD - By Fish The Mouse Media is a glorious new app for iPad. This letter teaching application includes one animal per each letter of the alphabet, as well as hidden interactive hotspots to enjoy. Players can move back or forth though the letters or tap the top right of the screen to choose a favorite.

I have seen a fair share of letters apps such as this, and because the alphabet is such a basic concept to adults, letter and picture recognition apps should be made as interesting to the parent as it is to the child. Otherwise, adults can get bored easily over such simple content.

I am happy to say that Animal Alphabet HD transcends the typical baby flashcard letters application in its sheer beauty. Each animal letter combination is lovingly hand-painted by artist Norm Magnusson with a wonderful use of detail and an amazing, bright and bold color palette. If these images were prints, I would frame them and hang them on the walls of my house.

I really enjoy the carnival theme used here, as each page looks like a poster for a side show act starring the specific animal and letter in question, along with nice carnival-themed music, giving it a bit of an edge parents will smile at. I also enjoy the narration, which sometimes includes quirky sentences involving the animal, also making good use of the corresponding letter, such as “Aunt Angela’s angel fish.” Other times it is informational and sometimes very conversational, explaining how vampire bats look scarier than they actually are, or including the narrator’s personal affinity for butterflies - nice moments I really appreciate.

The hidden interactions bring added whimsy to this delightful app, and vary from screen to screen. I really like the extra info given to some of these animals, added to the posters and delivered like a tag line that barkers would use to drum up business, such as “650 million years of fears” for the jelly fish or “30,000 quills” used for the porcupine. My only note here is that it would be a nice addition to be able to hear the additional text with a tap so pre-readers can also enjoy these tidbits when exploring this app themselves.

The animals used here are also highly creative choices, such as the io moth, rattlesnake, and xantusiidae - a type of lizard.

Every element and choice used here are excellent, and this app will be loved by all members of the family no matter their age. My three year old has known his letters for a long time now, and it is harder and harder for me to excite him over a simple letters and pictures app, but he loves the look of this app as much as I do. I think this would be a fantastic first app for the youngest family members as well as toddlers new to the alphabet, an app that parents will truly enjoy as well.

The developers at Fish The Mouse Media also have another app, hand-painted on canvas by Norm Magnusson available, titled Old MacDonald - By Fish The Mouse Media for both iPhone as well as iPad. If interested, please check iTunes.

Old MacDonald HD by Fish the Mouse Media is a really fun and beautifully drawn interactive iPad game for kids that adults will enjoy as well. A version of this app available for iPhone and iPod Touch.

Set to the song, “Old MacDonald,” this app takes place on a farm. First, help a man drive his tractor back and forth across the page. Next, look for hidden animations as you interact with farm animals. There is a lot to tap and discover here and if you find it all, there is a special bonus feature. I like that the tractor from the first page is really responsive to touch, and we love all the silly animal interactions. The details are very involved and bring a lot of character to this app. My son spends a lot of time playing with the pigs, and I like the hidden animations of the crows in the tree.

With all the highly animated computer graphics out there, this app stands out being hand-painted on canvas, with artwork done by artist Norm Magnusson. The music is also nicely done, sung in English by pop singer Jill Sobule or in French by Dominique Durand from the indie band Ivy. A men's voice in English is also available. One can both choose what instruments used to accompany the song, as well as make their own recording, nice touches to personalize the experience.